The Wholeness of the Holistic Approach of Therapeutic Touch™

By Jaime McGrail, RN, RP

This article appeared in the Winter, 2005, edition of in touch.

Since Therapeutic Touch came into my life over 10 years ago, I have experienced its diverse and powerful force for others as well as myself. There are many things I value about Therapeutic Touch. I want to share some of my observations and experiences. I love the versatility of Therapeutic Touch...it’s a "one size fits all" approach. Having said that I know that for the very ill, the elderly, infants, children and animals that the duration of the treatment and modulation of the energy vary with each of these situations and we must assess each condition accordingly.

The point of my submission to in touch is about the versatility of Therapeutic Touch. I am certain that all of us could cite instances when Therapeutic Touch has been a vital part of our lives. I know that my experience is not unlike yours. This has been a very intense year for our family. I would like to share some of the extraordinary/ordinary experiences I’ve had over the past year.

Last fall, my 9 year old grandnephew was very close to death from toxic shock. He was in Intensive Care in a Texas hospital. I called on the support of the distance healing team here in London and we started sending him Therapeutic Touch. After several harrowing weeks he had a full recovery. I am certain that Therapeutic Touch was an integral part of his holistic care. My daughter suffers from a rare condition called opthalmaplegic migraines which was severe during the Spring. She lives in BC, so of course distant Therapeutic Touch was required. I set aside healing time each day as well as awaken in the night. She would tell me the next day that something shifted in the night and she started to get relief.

My son stopped in one day saying that his back was hurting and asked for Therapeutic Touch. His discomfort was relieved shortly after.

I was walking on the beach and a poor little frog was not doing well, so of course I stopped and offered it a little Therapeutic Touch and off it hopped!

For the second time in two years I had the privilege of being at the labour and delivery of my daughter-in-law. My first granddaughter was born in Squamish, BC, where Therapeutic Touch was welcomed by the nurses and doctors during the birthing experience. She had her second daughter in London where once again Therapeutic Touch was recognized as an integral part of her care. Little Cedar didn’t want to wait until full term to appear.

I was away when I heard that Leah was having contractions a month early. I took time to connect with baby Cedar and her energy in utero and asked her to wait until my return as long as she would be safe. Ten days later she was born and happily I was there.

Prior to Leah going into labour I sent blue light and the message of acceptance and good will to all the people we would encounter at the hospital. We couldn’t have asked for a more gracious and clinically astute team.

During labour I had to leave the room for about five minutes during which time Lea experienced a contraction without the support of Therapeutic Touch. She realized that Therapeutic Touch made a huge difference and asked me not to leave the room again! She said she felt relaxed and could almost sleep between contractions.

Her first baby had some difficulty manoeuvring the birth canal and Leah was concerned that it might be the same this time. So I used my intent and Therapeutic Touch to help guide. We were so successful that the doctor had 1 minute and ten seconds to gown and mask before the birth!

After Cedar’s birth I offered Therapeutic Touch to her and welcomed her little being into the earthly realm. Once her dad took her I returned to Leah to help with the rest of the process and she recovered quickly.

I know that Therapeutic Touch helped in creating a calm soothing presence that helped Leah and Steven approach the birth of their baby calmly and supportively.

Six weeks later Leah had an emergency appendectomy. This hospital was receptive to Therapeutic Touch and allowed me to provide Therapeutic Touch in the Recovery Room. After her release from hospital I gave Leah sessions for several days. Her eldest daughter, Piper, at 26 months of age wanted so badly to help Mama’s "booboo" and of course didn’t understand how her bouncing energy might affect her mom. I suggested that she help me give Therapeutic Touch to her mom and Piper became an enthusiastic assistant.

A few days later when I came to visit, my son said "Piper, show Nana how you do Therapeutic Touch." Piper got a "Zen" look on her face and proceeded to pass her little hands through her mother’s field. Needless to say, my heart nearly burst with joy! She/we use Therapeutic Touch for all of the "booboos" now. How precious! I can’t wait for her to tell me what she discovers in the field and what colours she sees.

What I really want to impart here is how humbled and grateful I am to this modality and to the energy field. I love the images it presents and the information it offers me. I now know that when I sense varying temperatures or see certain colours or visions that have significance for me, I can trust these experiences. Further, as exemplified by the calm and fluid energy during the labour and delivery, I am deeply awed by the capacity and power of holding intention.

I know that this is a modality that can be used 24 hours a day whether I am half asleep or wide awake, in the privacy of my home, office or even in public. The field responds and communes and for me holds the sacred. I am blessed.

Jaime McGrail lives in London, Ontario

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